Music

The Bachelor of Arts in Music serves students who are interested in a liberal arts approach to musical knowledge and skill. Music majors have the benefit of specialized study in their chosen field. Students take crucial fundamental classes in subjects such as harmony and theory, aural skills, conducting, music history and applied music. Some students elect to have a dual major to become more marketable in programs including business, computer science, electronic media, journalism-professional writing, library science and pre-music therapy.

Students in this major may choose to minor in any of several disciplines offered by the university.  

The music program at Kutztown also offers a minor.

Piano Proficiency
National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) requires music majors to acquire keyboard competency. Music majors must pass the Piano Proficiency prior to graduation. The piano proficiency will be offered each semester during jury week. Students may enroll in class or studio piano as a music elective until the proficiency is passed.

Requirements for piano proficiency for the BA Music:

• All major and minor scales, 2 octaves, hands together at metronome marking of quarter note = 76
• Primary chord progressions in all keys (I/i IV/iv V I/i)
• Prepared piece from the Piano Proficiency repertoire list, or equivalent, as determined by a member of the piano faculty

Suggested Repertoire List:

• Bach - Prelude Prelude in C Major (Book I, Well Tempered Clavier), Minuet in G Major
• Clementi - Sonatina (first movement)
• Schumann - Happy Farmer, Of Foreign Lands and People
• MacDowell - Woodland Sketches
• Kabalevsky - Toccatina

BA music majors must successfully pass a comprehensive examination in music. The Senior Seminar in Music affords an opportunity for students to review and summarize their varied experiences in the study of music in order to increase their intellectual perspective and conceptual development. The course culminates with a comprehensive examination in music. Although the questions in this examination focus mainly on music history, theory, and literature, there are personalized questions in order to cover each student's elected courses of music study.

Admission Requirements

Music majors in the College of Visual and Performing Arts are required to complete and return a separate Department of Music admission form. Upon receipt of the undergraduate application for admission, students will be sent the music audition requirements/guidelines. Once the music admission form is returned (to be mailed directly to the Department of Music), the student will be scheduled for an audition with Department of Music faculty. At the interview/audition, students will play/sing in their area of musical interest and expertise. During the interview, students should be prepared to discuss their musical background, career goals, musical and general areas of interest. Students also take preliminary exams in: (a) harmony and theory, (b) ear training, (c) sight singing, and (d) piano skills. These are diagnostic examinations to determine placement in music courses, and are considered as part of acceptance in the degree program. Students will not receive a decision regarding their acceptance to the university until the interview/audition/diagnostic examinations have been completed.

Career Opportunities
Graduates may function in a wide variety of musical or musically-related fields such as private teacher, performer, composer, conductor, writer, music retail, publishing, entertainment and music librarianship. Graduates also may pursue graduate study.